SHERMAN OAKS : Redevelopment Panel Picks Anger Many

On his last full day in office Friday, Los Angeles City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky angered many of his constituents by appointing a controversial citizens panel to represent the community in an earthquake-recovery zone in Sherman Oaks and Studio City.

Although Yaroslavsky combined earthquake victims, business leaders and pro- and anti-redevelopment forces, the nine-member appointment to the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Earthquake Recovery Advisory Committee quickly drew fire from critics who complained that the panel tilted too much toward developers.

“Zev should be absolutely ashamed of himself,” said Matt Epstein, vice president of the 1,600-family Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn. “It’s a bunch of developers and attorneys. The majority is a fan club for the CRA. I don’t see one person, other than Scott Harvey, who has no vested interest. Everyone else has a conflict.” But Yaroslavsky’s office defended the one-year appointments.

“I think we have a good mix,” said Vivian Rescalvo, Yaroslavsky’s planning deputy. “Seven of them participated in the redevelopment plan for this area. Scott Harvey helped spearhead the campaign against the CRA, but later worked with us. We needed to have some continuity.”

The committee’s selection is the latest controversy surrounding the 717-acre emergency redevelopment zone, which will use property taxes to provide loans to repair residential and commercial neighborhoods hardest hit by the temblor.

The zone was approved by the City Council last week, following heated debate from residents who do not trust the CRA’s ability to spend their tax dollars wisely or condemn private property.

Only two vocal opponents of the CRA zone, both members of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn., were appointed to the committee: Harvey, an attorney, and Gary Holme, president of a property management company.

The committee cannot set policy, but can veto elements of the redevelopment plan, which calls for $18 million to be spent in the zone. Only a two-thirds vote of the City Council can overturn the committee’s decision.

Critics said Yaroslavsky’s departure to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Monday will make the committee a puppet of the CRA until a new City Council member is elected next July. But committee chairwoman Nancy Schmidt said homeowners have been fairly represented.